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Northern lights light up the skies over New York and New Jersey. Check out the stunning images.

Northern lights light up the skies over New York and New Jersey. Check out the stunning images.

NEW YORK – The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, put on an overnight display over New York and New Jersey Meteorologists were waiting for a potentially severe geomagnetic storm.

Photos show the sky in the Northeast glowing pink and purple, even to some viewers in New York City.

Will the Northern Lights be visible again tonight?

New York City exteriors and landmarks
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are seen over the New York skyline on October 11, 2024 in New York City.

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images


The city's Light pollution is often an obstacle However, to see the northern lights, experts recommend finding a flat area with a clear view of the horizon. The best viewing times are generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m

Luckily, the forecast was pretty clear Thursday through Friday. However, our First Alert Weather team says there likely won't be an encore to the show Friday night.

But don't worry, it's an important month to keep an eye on the sky. The next Supermoon comes from October 16th to 17th and the Orionids Meteor shower Peaks around October 20th and 21st.

What is a geomagnetic storm?

US space weather sun
The Norwood Public Library is seen on October 10, 2024 as the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, produced by a solar geomagnetic storm, illuminates the sky in Norwood, New Jersey.

KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm warning for storm G4, the second highest classification.

“A fast CME erupted from the Sun on the evening of October 8th and is expected to reach Earth on October 10th. This CME has been analyzed and there is a possibility of achieving G4 levels upon arrival and throughout the CME passage,” the SWPC posted on social media.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management said it was monitoring the situation and possible impacts to infrastructure.

“These storms can disrupt our planet’s magnetic field, leading to potential disruptions to radio communications, satellite functionality and, in some cases, power grid stability,” OEM posted online.

officials said Power outages were unlikely, but in case of a problem, be sure to stock up on the following:

  • Flashlights and batteries
  • One gallon of water per person per day
  • Non-perishable snacks

New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for the city's Notify NYC alerts to receive real-time updates.

Earlier this year, NOAA said: “Extreme” G5 storm reached Earthand officials also warned that the power grid or communications systems could be affected.

Stay with CBS News New York for the local viewership forecast. For live maps, see NOAA's Aurora Prediction Model here.

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